Defeat to his former club Chelsea in Saturday’s FA Cup final saw the pressure grow further on the Portuguese, who was brought to Old Trafford with one objective: to win trophies.

Last season was a success of sorts for the Red Devils, who marked Mourinho’s first season in charge by winning the Carabao Cup and the Europa League, despite a disappointing sixth-placed finish in the Premier League.

This season has been one of progress, if you listen to Jose. But many are saying it's not. United have improved their league position, but to end the campaign without any silverware, knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Bristol City, out of Europe by Seville and then turn in the most anaemic of performances in the FA Cup final (on top of numerous turgid, dire and dour performances throughout the season), it's easy to question Mourinho's stance.

A dejected Marcus Rashford of Manchester United after The Emirates FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on May 19, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

If Liverpool win the Champions League final next week, to go with Manchester City’s Premier League triumph and the Blues’ FA Cup win, then it has very much been an annus horribilis for United and their millions of fans worldwide.

To rub salt into the wound, Jose’s United are fast earning a reputation of being a boring team. While near-neighbours Cirty are blitzing their way to a record-breaking Premier League crown, the free-flowing, attack-minded United of yesteryear are very much no more. One goal in their last four games is testament to that. Watching United has never been so boring. The natives are getting restless and Jose is losing support from all angles, it would seem.

That supports starts in the boardroom, who are rumoured to be split over who wants Jose to stay and who wants him to go. He has lost the support of his dressing room, with his criticising of players not going down will with them or many of their team-mates. And the dire, turgid style in which United are playing under his management has seen fans quickly turn, more and more losing faith with each insipid performance.

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Even Mourinho is different. His whole demeanour is far from the confident, brash, arrogant but enlightening Mourinho that first game to the English game. Now, he is constantly moody and mardy, snapping at press corps for the slightest thing. He looks irritable and unhappy, rarely smiling or jovial, or looking like a man enjoying one of the best gigs in football management.

United are now at a huge crossroads. Do they stick with a man that has recently signed a contract extension in January, tying him to Old Trafford until 2020 at least? Or do they start again, as they did with Louis van Gaal and then Mourinho in the problematic post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, thank Mourinho for his efforts, but accept they got it wrong?

This is an end of season United did not want. They expected an improvement on 2017, but when reviewing Mourinho’s performance, there is far more to assess than just results in what is predominantly a results-based industry. Jose was brought in to win trophies, which could compensate for the dire football. But when he doesn't have the silverware, then what has he got?

Luke Shaw of Manchester United and Jose Mourinho the manager of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United and AFC Bournemouth at Old Trafford on December 13, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

In recent years, United have invested heavily in talented young players. The baulk of their team was going to be built around the likes of Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly, Luke Shaw, Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial, Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford.

These are the same players that Jose is said to have upset in the dressing room, so we are now in a situation which is causing United great strife. Do they stick with the players that have invested in? Those players bought for – and get paid – millions, or do they dispense with the services of a man that has lost their trust and will make no excuse to move these assets on at a price and replace them with older pros, even if they are terrace favourites on the Stretford End?

Mourinho’s record in the transfer market since becoming United boss has hardly been a success. And with a preference to snap up the proven player, rather than ones to develop and enhance, you have to question whether selling players that could be tomorrow’s superstars is the right option for a club like United, who pride themselves on giving young talent a chance.

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If he does stay, then serious questions will be asked as to whether they will stay. Those younger players, until recently and their fall-outs with Mourinho, were said to be United’s bright future. They have the ability, there is no doubt. But they have been woefully inconsistent throughout the whole campaign and that isn't all Mourinho's fault. But whether they would want to play under a manager that has been so outspoken about their performance and professionalism remains to be seen.

They must accept some responsibility for their performance this season and how much they have underachieved, that there is no doubt. But in Jose, the players seem to have a manager they are going to war against, rather than head to the trenches with. And when a situation like that develops at a club, then there is usually only one outcome.